Roma will visit Athletic Bilbao on Thursday, after a suspenseful playoff to go to the Europa League's last 16, as the team runs out the first leg of an appealing tie.

Five months after the first, when they decided on a 1-1 league phase tie, the second encounter between the Italian club and their Basque counterparts arrives.

Previous Matches and Head-to-head

Roma opened their Europa League campaign at Stadio Olimpico, but in late September, Athletic Club held them to a stalemate amid management upheaval and early-season challenges.

Before halftime, Artem Dovbyk opened the score; however, Athletic bit back in the final moments, thereby defining the tone of a challenging league phase.

Roma finally turned in an amazing 2-0 triumph against Eintracht Frankfurt on the last matchday, avoiding an early departure and booking their playoff position when club legend Claudio Raneri returned to calm the ship.

Ranieri's players then overcame Porto 3-2 in an exciting return encounter illuminated by Paulo Dybala's outstanding brace after a stand-still in the away leg.

Having then escaped city rivals Lazio in the last-16 draw, they may set up a quarter-final match with either Rangers or a Fenerbahce team under former boss Jose Mourinho.

Still undefeated in Serie A this year, the Giallorossi defeated Como on Sunday night, with Dovbyk hitting the crucial goal in a 2-1 triumph. Thus, the Giallorossi have now gone 11 league games without a loss.

Though they are still four points behind sixth-placed Bologna, seven victories and two draws since the start of January have returned them to the battle for European qualifying.

Therefore, there is definitely much to play for before temporary boss Ranieri appoints a new manager at the end of the season.

Although Athletic fell 1-0 to La Liga championship rivals Atletico Madrid last weekend, they are also having a great run of form; they recently thrashed Girona 3-0 and thumped seven past Real Valladolid.

They are fourth in the league, four points ahead of Villarreal's fifth-placed position. They are en route to qualifying for the Champions League next season, but they might also get in by capturing Europa League success.

The Basque side is determined to go all the way this year since the final will take place on home ground at San Mames, and they have effectively fulfilled the first part of that goal by finishing second in the first league phase.

In a final matchday triumph against Viktoria Plzen, star man Nico Williams - who hit the woodwork twice in Saturday's defeat to Atleti - was on target as Ernesto Valverde's side finished up equal on points with Lazio and one ahead of Manchester United.

Although Athletic has won six of its past seven Europa League games, the Bilbao team had a poor recent record in the latter rounds before visiting Rome.

Having lost four of their past five knockout games, they will be eager to avoid another loss on Thursday to stay in an excellent position for next week's return.

Roma x Athletic Bilbao Team News

Following Roma's top scorer Artem Dovbyk's comeback from injury, the Ukrainian striker might replace Eldor Shomurodov in the hosts' starting lineup.

It remains to be seen whether he is teamed with Paulo Dybala; if Claudio Raneri rests it, younger guys like Matias Soule, Nicolo Pisilli, and Tommaso Baldanzi will fight it out for positions behind the only striker.

Leandro Paredes has already crossed the bookings level and must serve a one-match suspension, while Baldanzi is one of five players in danger of being punished for the second leg, including Dybala.  Bryan Cristante ought so to start in midfield.

Alvaro Djalo is currently hindered by an ankle issue, but Athletic Club's Oihan Sancet passed a fitness test and will fly to Italy.

Once again, in the visitors' attack, Inaki Williams is scheduled to start with younger brother Nico Williams alongside Gorka Guruzeta and Maroan Sannadi pushing to join them.

Williams junior has made the most dribbles per 90 minutes (9.6) among players to complete at least 500 minutes in this season's Europa League—the highest rate of anybody since the 2019-20 campaign.

Our Predictions

Full time draw @ 3.20 on Sky247.ng

Roma have lost just two of their past 38 home games in Europe, three years ago before qualifying for a Europa League final and semi-final.

With 27 victories on the record in that span, the in-form Giallorossi should start favorites; yet Athletic are also a force to be reckoned with and will undoubtedly score at least once.

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